Calculations on Enhancement of Polycrystalline Diamond Bits through Addition of Superhard Diamond-Reinforced Elements

Abstract

The paper is dedicated to the enhancement of Polycrystalline Diamond Bits (PDC) designed for oil and gas industry. A novel diamond-reinforced composite was applied for cutting inserts, with the addition of 4 wt% chromium diboride to the WC-Co matrix. The addition of CrB2 ensured improvement of bending strength and fracture toughness by nearly 30% and 40%, respectively, and enhanced the diamond retention force. The efficiency of PDC bits was further improved by incorporating constructional features in both bottomhole and reaming parts. An analytical relationship between the feeding speed and geometrical parameters was found, including the wings and calibrating inserts numbers, as well as the rotational speed of the cutter. Under the conditions of rock fracture by reaming inserts, the approximate value of the required power was calculated.

Public-private partnership between Satbayev university and SK Geoservice LLP: Enhancing collaboration in technological innovation and production

“…The project entails the development and production of experimental samples of bits equipped with diamond-hard-alloyed PDC inserts (Figure 3) for use in oil field operations. It addresses the issue of cutting element wear along the bit diameter through the original bit design and the use of special additives in the composite material of cutting inserts [5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16]. In 2023, alongside their involvement in state-financed projects, specialists from Satbayev University and SK Geoservice LLP embarked on an innovative initiative to establish a research and production laboratory for manufacturing drilling tool prototypes within the university's premises.…”